+Source.+--_Walter of Hemingburgh's Chronicle_, vol. ii., pp. 20-22
(English Historical Society Publications.)
The King held a Parliament at London after Easter ... and the Barons
complained of the wickedness and perfidy of the Jews, in that they had
impoverished many of the nobles by divers usuries and false scripts, and
had corrupted the coinage throughout the whole land; therefore, it was
ordained by the King and the Privy Council that, on a certain day
between the hours of one and three, all Jews in every city should be
seized and then expelled from the realm; a like zeal inspired all, for
they thought to obtain great favour in the sight of God by cutting off
from the faithful those who had risen against Christ. And this ordinance
was carried into effect, for on the one day all Jews were seized, and
before another appointed day, expelled. All their real property was
confiscated together with their starrs[30] and obligations; but their
remaining movables, with their gold and silver, the King allowed them to
take away--which was a matter of displeasure to many. Among them were
certain Jews of London, of the noblest and wealthiest in the city, who,
since they had immense treasure, hired a great and lofty ship in the
harbour, loaded it, went on board and departed. When they were
descending the Thames and had now approached nigh to the sea, the master
of the ship, without leave, anchored it in the midst of the waters, for
he grieved to think of the kingdom being despoiled of such riches. When
the tide ebbed and the ship was left on the sands, he said to the Jews,
"My masters, you have already suffered discomfort from the sea, and many
greater discomforts are to follow; it would be well then to come and
walk with me on the sands, while the tide is out, for the waters will
not return yet for a space." The Jews acquiesced joyfully, and
disembarked; but he conducted them afar off from the vessel until he saw
the waters returning; and as the tide flowed in, he ran forward and
climbed to the deck of his vessel by means of a rope; whereupon the
Jews, following slowly, called to him to rescue them. "Call not upon
me," he cried in answer, "but upon Moses your prophet; for he brought
your fathers through the midst of the Red Sea, and is able to snatch you
from the midst of the waves, if he will." They called, therefore, upon
God and upon Moses, but were not heard, for the sea swallowed them up,
and they perished in the waters. Then the sailor returned to the King,
told him all, and claimed favour and reward.[31]
[30] Acquittances and assignments of debt. The word is Hebrew.
[31] According to Sir Edward Coke, the master and his accomplices were
tried, and hanged for murder. The King had granted a safe-conduct to all
Jews leaving the country.